Missouri Missed Chance to Hire Illinois' Final Four Coach

Brad Underwood was interested in the Tigers job in 2014 but they went another direction

Mar. 29, 2026 at 1:40am

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As Illinois' Brad Underwood led his team to the Final Four, it's hard not to wonder what could have been for Missouri. Back in 2014, Underwood was interested in the Tigers' head coaching job, but Missouri ultimately hired Kim English instead. Underwood went on to coach at Oklahoma State and is now in his seventh season at Illinois, where he has the Illini in the national semifinals.

Why it matters

This story highlights the challenges Missouri has faced in finding the right head coach, as they passed on an opportunity to hire a coach who has since led Illinois to great success. It also raises questions about how Missouri's trajectory might have been different if they had hired Underwood in 2014.

The details

In 2014, Missouri was searching for a new head coach after Frank Haith's departure. Underwood, who was the head coach at Stephen F. Austin at the time, expressed interest in the Missouri job, calling it 'his type of job.' However, Missouri ultimately hired Kim English instead. Underwood went on to coach at Oklahoma State for one season before taking the Illinois job in 2017. Under Underwood's leadership, Illinois has become a national powerhouse, earning a Final Four berth in 2026.

  • In 2014, Missouri was looking for a new head coach after Frank Haith left the program.
  • In 2014, Brad Underwood was the head coach at Stephen F. Austin and expressed interest in the Missouri job.
  • In 2014, Missouri hired Kim English as their new head coach instead of Underwood.
  • Underwood coached at Oklahoma State for one season in 2016-17 before taking the Illinois job in 2017.
  • In 2026, Underwood led Illinois to the Final Four.

The players

Brad Underwood

The current head coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team, who has led the program to great success, including a Final Four appearance in 2026.

Missouri Tigers

The men's basketball team of the University of Missouri, who had the opportunity to hire Underwood as their head coach in 2014 but ultimately went in a different direction.

Kim English

The head coach Missouri hired in 2014 after passing on the opportunity to hire Underwood.

Frank Haith

The former head coach of the Missouri Tigers men's basketball team, who left the program in 2014, leading to their search for a new head coach.

Dennis Gates

The current head coach of the Missouri Tigers men's basketball team, who has led the team to three NCAA Tournament appearances in his first four seasons.

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What they’re saying

“It's an unbelievable job. That's my type of job. The basketball aside, it's been a great spot for many years with a ton of great players. It's a great university, but I'm still the coach at Stephen F [Austin].”

— Brad Underwood, Head Coach, Stephen F. Austin

What’s next

Missouri will look to build on their recent NCAA Tournament appearances under head coach Dennis Gates and continue to try to close the gap on in-state rival Illinois, who has emerged as a national powerhouse under Underwood's leadership.

The takeaway

This story serves as a reminder of the challenges Missouri has faced in finding the right head coach, and how one decision can have a significant impact on a program's trajectory. While Missouri has made progress under Dennis Gates, the what-if scenario of hiring Underwood in 2014 will likely linger for Tigers fans.